Wire gutter-stay



M. C. WIRTH.

WIRE GUTTER STAYI APPLICATION man APR. 12, 1919.

1,365,296. Patented Jan. 11,1921.

' ATTORNEY. I

UNITED STATES MAIS I WI T 0F NDIANA O IS, ND ANA- WIRE GUTTER-STAY.

Specification of Letters Patent; Patented J a 11 1921 Application filed April 12, 1919. Serial N0. 289,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN C. WIRTI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented anew and useful Wire Gutter-Stay, of whichthe following is a specification reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to stays or braces for sheet metal gutters, such as are secured below the eaves or roofs or those which are secured to roofs a short distance above the eaves, the invention having reference more particularly to stays or braces for the tops of the front portions of the gutters.

An object of the invention is to provide a strong and efiicient yet inexpensive gutter stay of the above-mentioned character which shall be so constructed as to be adapted to be quickly applied. Another object is to provide a simple gutter stay of such construction that it may be inexpensively con structed or manufactured of stock galvanized wire and be suitable for shipment inexpensively in bundles, and be adapted to be applied without requiring special tools or instruments.

Vith the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a wire gutter stay or brace having certain novel features of construction, and in the parts and'combinations thereof as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claim.

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 is a side view of the improved gutter stay; Fig. 2 is a top view of the stay; Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the stay; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a roof having an eaves gutterto which the improved stays are applied; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing a portion of the gutter and the stay connected thereto on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is an end view of the improved stay; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the gutter showing the stay on an enlarged scale connected thereto, the main portion of the stay being in section; and,

. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a roof having a gutter secured thereon and provided with the improved stay or brace.

On the different figures of the drawings,

like characters of reference indicate like parts or features of construction herein referred to.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates .a building and 2 the roof of a building provided with a metallic gutter 3 as illustrated in Fig. 4 or a slightly different-gutter 4 as illustrated in Fig. 8, the top of the front of each gutter havinga rearwardly extending horizontally arranged stiffening flange 5 which it is customary to provide with suitable stays or braces.

The improved gutter stay is composed of galvanized iron wire and comprises a main member 6 of suitable length and thickness, the main member having a short crook 7 on one end thereof from which extends a short straight arm 8 having a lateral finger 9 on its end. The end portion of the finger has a tapering side 10 and a point 11. The arm stands at an acute angle to the main member 6 and the crook 7 is flexible to permit the arm to be forced back toward the main member, and the finger extends approximately at right angles to the arm, but is turned partially crosswise relatively to the main member in order to engage the side of the main member when the crook is being bent and pass transversely of the main member to permit the arm to-be brought down nearly onto the adjacent portion of the main member when being applied to the gutter. The opposite end of the main member 6 has a short bend 12 from which extends an anchoring spur or spike 13 so as to be approximately at right angles to the main member and on the opposite side thereof from the arm 8. The anchoring member 13 has a tapering end portion 14 and a point l5 adapted to penetrate wood when driven.

The lip or flange 5 of the gutter has a suitable number of small ho1es'16 therein, and when applying the stays to the gutter the fingers 9 are inserted through the holes from below and then the arms 8 are drawn through so as to bring the crooks 7 in the holes, after which strong pliers are applied so as to engage the under side of the main member 6 and the outer side of the arm 8, the pliers being operated to force the arm down upon the top of the lip 5 so as to form a clamp bar 8' which holds the adjacent portion of the metal tightly to the main member 6 of the stay, the finger 9 passing down at one side of the main member and adjacent to the edge of the lip. Having secured the stay tightly to the gutter so as a to prevent relative movement and rattling, the point 15 is set upon the top of the roof and driven into the roof so asto securely hold the stay, whereby the front of the gutter is kept straight. Being composed of wire the stay does not interfere with the free flow of water and the passage of leaves or trash that may be blown onto the roof, and does not obstruct the movement of the snow nor accumulate ice to an objectionable extent, and being galvanized will not rapidly deteriorate.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is The herein-described gutter stay com posed of a single piece of drawn wire and consisting of a straight single-wire main member, a crook on one end of the main member integral therewith and being flexible, an arm integral with the crook and ex tending back at an acute angle relatively to the main member to be drawn down toward but obliquely to the main member, a finger on the arm and extending approximately at right angles from the arm and in the direction toward one side of the main member to be guided against said side when said crook is flexed, the finger being pointed, a crook on the opposite end of said main member bent over from the side of the main member opposite to that from which said arm extends and a spike extending from said last-described crook, the spike be ing pointed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN o. WIRTH.

Witnesses:

E. T. SILvIUs, O. L. CHAMNESS. 

